NUR 350 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Identify characteristics of personality disorders as a whole - Answers :Enduring patterns
of behavior: began in childhood/adolescents that continue into adulthood
It is inflexible and pervasive in all areas of the person's social interaction
It is not associated with medical conditions
Name the personality disorders found in Cluster A - Answers :Paranoid, schizoid,
schizotypal
Name the personality disorders found in Cluster B: dramatic/emotional/erratic - Answers
:antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic
Name the personality disorders found in Cluster C: anxious/fearful - Answers
:Dependent, avoidant, obsessive compulsive
What is Paranoid Personality Disorder - Answers :The person perceives that all people
are out to get them, undermine them.
Believes spouse/significant other is unfaithful even when there is no evidence- very
controlling. Ver suspicious of people give compliments or statements of loyalty.
Nursing interventions to use for a person with Paranoid Personality disorder. - Answers
:Be neutral in approach, respectful, matter of fact. Ask permission to complete tasks.
Give straight forward explanations of what you will be doing
What is Schizoid Personality Disorder? - Answers :The person acts like detachment-
hermits. Does not desire close relationships. Emotionally cold
Nursing interventions to use for person with schizoid personality disorder. - Answers
:Tell client what to expect and what is expected from him for each task. Simplify and
clarify what you will be doing
What is Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Answers :The person is uncomfortable in
realtionships. Excessive social anxiety, typically unhappy about not having close
relationships eccentric/odd beliefs
Antisocial Personality Disorder - Answers :The person has total disregard for other and
violates others rights
Does not conform to social norms, problems with the law, no guilt about what he/she
has done, typically has diagnosis of conduct disorder before age 15.
Nursing interventions to use for person with antisocial personality disorder - Answers
:Very structured milieu, Identify limits of behavior-what is expected, set limits on
manipulative behavior and unacceptable behaviors, consistency in expectations for all
, clients from all staff, staff can discuss problems and provide support for each other,
teach to communicate needs.
Borderline Personality Disorder - Answers :Main issue: abandonment
Develops unstable and intense relationships, people are perceives as all good/all bad
no in between: splitting, unstable self image, involved in behaviors that are self-
damaging: Chemical abuse, overspending, sexual
Self-mutilation: used to reduce anxiety and relieve emotional pain and need to feel alive
Histrionic Personality Disorder - Answers :Very dramatic/highly emotional must be at
center of attention, clothes may be seductive or loud colors, elaborate fantasies about
others: idealize
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Answers :Grandiose in perception of self-sees self as
superior to other. Strong need to be admired, lack of empathy for others, whole purpose
of life is to have others meet their needs. Sense of shame: never to make a mistake and
don't allow others to make mistakes
Avoidant Personality Disorder - Answers :The person is shy and avoids conflict, sense
of inadequacy, preoccupied with fear of rejection and criticism, low self-esteem
Nursing interventions to use for person with avoidant personality disorder - Answers
:Friendly, gentle, reassuring approach
Dependent Personality Disorder - Answers :The person perceives self as incapable of
making decisions or living life alone Clingy/excessive submission/passive.
Nursing interventions to use for person with dependent personality disorder - Answers
:Help person to make decisions and to do things for self, identify that you cannot make
decisions for them, praise when person does make decisions
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder - Answers :The person is right in
expectations; Absolute perfectionist, typically has difficulty getting things done because
the task is not perfect, literal enforcer of rules, Their way is the only way
Identify some long term patient goals for patients who have personality disorders -
Answers :Patient will:
1) Identify consequences to both functional and dysfunctional behaviors
2) Identify other ways of interacting with others- relationships
3) Learn and master skills that facilitate functional behaviors
4) Learn new ways to express anger, anxiety, shame
Addiction - Answers :Use of the drug continues despite the presence of related
problems and tendency to relapse after stopping use. (Halter 672)
Identify characteristics of personality disorders as a whole - Answers :Enduring patterns
of behavior: began in childhood/adolescents that continue into adulthood
It is inflexible and pervasive in all areas of the person's social interaction
It is not associated with medical conditions
Name the personality disorders found in Cluster A - Answers :Paranoid, schizoid,
schizotypal
Name the personality disorders found in Cluster B: dramatic/emotional/erratic - Answers
:antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic
Name the personality disorders found in Cluster C: anxious/fearful - Answers
:Dependent, avoidant, obsessive compulsive
What is Paranoid Personality Disorder - Answers :The person perceives that all people
are out to get them, undermine them.
Believes spouse/significant other is unfaithful even when there is no evidence- very
controlling. Ver suspicious of people give compliments or statements of loyalty.
Nursing interventions to use for a person with Paranoid Personality disorder. - Answers
:Be neutral in approach, respectful, matter of fact. Ask permission to complete tasks.
Give straight forward explanations of what you will be doing
What is Schizoid Personality Disorder? - Answers :The person acts like detachment-
hermits. Does not desire close relationships. Emotionally cold
Nursing interventions to use for person with schizoid personality disorder. - Answers
:Tell client what to expect and what is expected from him for each task. Simplify and
clarify what you will be doing
What is Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Answers :The person is uncomfortable in
realtionships. Excessive social anxiety, typically unhappy about not having close
relationships eccentric/odd beliefs
Antisocial Personality Disorder - Answers :The person has total disregard for other and
violates others rights
Does not conform to social norms, problems with the law, no guilt about what he/she
has done, typically has diagnosis of conduct disorder before age 15.
Nursing interventions to use for person with antisocial personality disorder - Answers
:Very structured milieu, Identify limits of behavior-what is expected, set limits on
manipulative behavior and unacceptable behaviors, consistency in expectations for all
, clients from all staff, staff can discuss problems and provide support for each other,
teach to communicate needs.
Borderline Personality Disorder - Answers :Main issue: abandonment
Develops unstable and intense relationships, people are perceives as all good/all bad
no in between: splitting, unstable self image, involved in behaviors that are self-
damaging: Chemical abuse, overspending, sexual
Self-mutilation: used to reduce anxiety and relieve emotional pain and need to feel alive
Histrionic Personality Disorder - Answers :Very dramatic/highly emotional must be at
center of attention, clothes may be seductive or loud colors, elaborate fantasies about
others: idealize
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Answers :Grandiose in perception of self-sees self as
superior to other. Strong need to be admired, lack of empathy for others, whole purpose
of life is to have others meet their needs. Sense of shame: never to make a mistake and
don't allow others to make mistakes
Avoidant Personality Disorder - Answers :The person is shy and avoids conflict, sense
of inadequacy, preoccupied with fear of rejection and criticism, low self-esteem
Nursing interventions to use for person with avoidant personality disorder - Answers
:Friendly, gentle, reassuring approach
Dependent Personality Disorder - Answers :The person perceives self as incapable of
making decisions or living life alone Clingy/excessive submission/passive.
Nursing interventions to use for person with dependent personality disorder - Answers
:Help person to make decisions and to do things for self, identify that you cannot make
decisions for them, praise when person does make decisions
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder - Answers :The person is right in
expectations; Absolute perfectionist, typically has difficulty getting things done because
the task is not perfect, literal enforcer of rules, Their way is the only way
Identify some long term patient goals for patients who have personality disorders -
Answers :Patient will:
1) Identify consequences to both functional and dysfunctional behaviors
2) Identify other ways of interacting with others- relationships
3) Learn and master skills that facilitate functional behaviors
4) Learn new ways to express anger, anxiety, shame
Addiction - Answers :Use of the drug continues despite the presence of related
problems and tendency to relapse after stopping use. (Halter 672)
